Texas water development board update 3.6.14

Texas Water Development Board Update

Bech BruunMember, Texas Water Development Board

TWDB MissionTo provide leadership, planning, financial assistance, information,

and education for the conservation

and responsible development of water for Texas.

How off the charts was the summer of 2011?

Texas DroughtOctober 4, 2011 February 25, 2014

Wichita Falls – Lake Arrowhead

January 22, 2014 27% Full

The SWIFT was createdand funded byHouse Bill 4

Senate Joint Resolution 1House Bill 1025

House Bill 4–Provided TWDB governance

changes–Created Advisory Committee–Created SWIFT and SWIRFT–Defined how funds can be used –Defined prioritization processes–Outlined technical aspects of

legislation

House Bill 4 Governance ChangesThree full-time Board members:• One with experience in engineering,

one with experience in finance, and one with experience in law or business

• Reflect geographic regions and population groups of the state

• Staggered six-year terms• May serve for no more than two terms

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Board Members

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Open Meetings

HB 4 Advisory Committee Members• Comptroller or designee• Three members appointed by the Lt.

Governor:– One from Senate Finance– One from Senate Natural Resources

• Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House:– One from House Appropriations – One from House Natural Resources

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Senate Joint Resolution 1• Provided for constitutional amendment

submitted to voters on November 5, 2013

• Discusses SWIFT, SWIRFT and funding for the state water plan

• Provided basic framework• Passage of proposition allowed

$2 billion to be transferred from the Rainy Day Fund to SWIFT

The objective of the SWIFTis to provide financial assistance

to ensure adequate futurewater supplies for Texas.

Financial Assistance• Up to 50% of the interest rate

available to TWDB• Up to 30-year amortization• Deferral of loan repayment for

principal and interest

Undertake to use: At least 20 percent of SWIFTto support water conservation

and reuse projects.

At least 10 percent of SWIFTto support projects serving

rural communities and Texas farmers.16

The SWIFT was exclusively created

to support projects inthe state water plan.

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Only political subdivisions and nonprofit water supply corporations

will be eligible for funds.

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$

Rural Water Infrastructu

re Fund

How do the $6Billion authorization and the $2Billion Capitalization work together to fund future State Water Plan

Projects?

$6 Billion

GO Authorization

No State Appropriated

Funding for Debt Service

$2 Billion

Upfront Capitalization

To be Leveraged to Generate more

Funding Capacity

How will the $2 billion and the $6 billion work together?

A stakeholders group developed uniform standards that all 16 regional water planning groups

will use to prioritize projects.

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Minimum criteria considered by the stakeholders committee

Decade in which project is needed

Feasibility of project

Viability of project

Sustainability

Cost effectiveness

Prioritization by regional water planning groups

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Serve a large population

Assist a diverse urban and rural population

Provide regionalization

Meet high percentage of water users’ needs

Highest consideration

Prioritization by TWDB

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Local financial contribution

Financial capacity of applicant to repay

Ability to leverage with local and federal funding

Emergency need for project

Readiness to proceed with project

Effect on water conservation

Priority given by regional water planning group

Additional Criteria

Prioritization by TWDB

Nov. 5, 2013 • Voters passed Proposition 6

Dec. 1, 2013• Stakeholders group submitted

prioritization standards to TWDB

Summer 2014

• Publish draft SWIFT rule

June 1, 2014• Regional water planning groups submit

draft prioritized list of regional projects

Sept. 1, 2014

• Planning groups submit final prioritized list of regional projects

March 1, 2015

• Deadline to adopt SWIFT rules

Agency Changes• Reorganized into six planning and

development teams– Organized by geographic areas– Provides for better customer service

• Provide more emphasis on outreach, including a new Agriculture and Rural Texas Ombudsman

• Create a public rulemaking process28

Team LeadsTeam 1 – Luis FariasTeam 2 – Brenner BrownTeam 3 – Jessica ZubaTeam 4 – Nancy RichardsTeam 5 – Clay SchultzTeam 6 – Mireya Loewe

Interactive 2012 State Water Plan

‘modules’ to be released through the fall of 2014:

I. water needs (March 24th target release)

II. population projectionsIII. water demand projectionsIV. water management strategiesV. existing water supplies

Interactive 2012 State Water Plan

Bech Bruun, Board MemberBech.Bruun@twdb.texas.gov512-463-7384Follow on Twitter @twdb_bech

Lauren Graber, Chief of StaffLauren.Graber@twdb.texas.gov512-463-7329

Contact Information

Texas Water Development Board Update

Bech BruunMember, Texas Water Development Board